Last week, Carter debuted as a guest judge on ABC’s SHARK TANK, the critically-acclaimed and Emmy-winning reality show that has reinvigorated entrepreneurship in America. Carter is well known for being Lady Gaga’s former manager in addition to being an early investor in break-out startups like Uber, Spotify, Dropbox, Warby Parker and Lyft. He currently serves as founder and CEO of Atom Factory, where he manages the careers of artists including John Legend and Meghan Trainor.
In addition to Carter serving as one of the judges for the Hennessy VSOP Privilège Lab competition, the winner will receive mentorship sessions from Carter, among other industry executives. As a judge, Carter says he will look at the same kind of criteria he uses when choosing companies to invest in or to participate in his accelerator. “I want to know about the team, the experience and dynamic of the team,†explains Carter. Also, what’s the founder or team’s domain expertise?  Meaning, says Carter, “what makes you think that you take the market in this particular space,†and the actual product or idea. “Is there a real market for this product and is this the team or founder that we think can actually get it done.â€
“We’re looking for passionate entrepreneurs with interesting ideas that benefit the world around them, not just the company itself,” said Alan Philips, senior vice president of five-year-old WeWork, which operates about 20 buildings of shared co-working space. “We’re looking for the big thinkers of the future and looking to support those big thinkers in terms of making their dreams come true and making society a better place.”
WeWork is a platform for creators, providing more than 30,000 members around the world with space, community, and services through both physical and virtual offerings. Their mission is to create a world where people work to make a life, not just a living. WeWork currently has more than 50 physical locations in 16 cities and four countries around the globe.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a yearlong WeWork membership, which includes not only a year of physical office space in Manhattan (accommodating up to six people), high speed Internet, private phone booths, premium coffee, but also access to more than 150 perks and benefits from WeWork’s partners to help succeed in business. What’s more, the 10 entrants with the highest number of votes as selected by visitors to the site will be awarded one Commons Membership from WeWork, valid for one year.
Applications, which must include a written portion as well as a short video, will be accepted through Nov. 19. Individuals may apply for the chance to conduct business in the Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege Lab by visiting Hennessy.Create. It
“This WeWork opportunity is really going to give the winning entrepreneur a chance to expand his or network in a very meaningful way,†adds Williams.
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